Pakistani yasimamishwa commonwealth

JF-Expert Member

Hours after Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf cleared the final legal hurdle to being re-elected to a third five-year term, the 53-nation Commonwealth on Thursday suspended Pakistan from its group.

Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has been under pressure to lift a state of emergency.

The Ministerial Action Group cited Musharraf's failure to lift the state of emergency he imposed earlier this month, step down as army chief and reinstate the country's constitution and its independent judiciary.

The suspension is "pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country," said the group, meeting in Kampala, Uganda.

The group noted that it had urged Pakistan 10 days ago to lift the state of emergency and take further steps, including the "full restoration of fundamental rights and the rule of law that have been curbed."

Calling the situation in Pakistan "a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values," the group reiterated its call for Pakistan "to implement the necessary measures ... as soon as possible."

The suspension means Pakistan cannot participate in any of the councils or meetings of the Commonwealth, which comprises Britain and its former colonies, said Malta's foreign minister Michael Frendo, who chaired Thursday's meeting. In addition, no further Commonwealth programs will be carried out in Pakistan, although the group remains engaged with the nation